The Edmonton Oilers traded for the rights to a free agent defenceman, and got him signed to a two-year deal, paying a premium for a shorter term contract. Shawn Kelley Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the Oilers inking Nikita Nikitin. The Oilers Get: D Nikita Nikitin. Nikitin, 28, played a career-high 66 games last season, an indication that hes still trying to establish his place in the league. A couple of years ago, in 2011-2012, Nikitin contributed a career-best 32 points in 54 games for Columbus (after seven scoreless games with St. Louis to start the year), playing a career-high 23:12 per game for the season putting up strong relative possession numbers while facing high-quality opposition, while frequently paired with veteran Fedor Tyutin. Thats the Nikitin that the Oilers have to hope they are acquiring. In 2012-2013, Nikitins role was decreased somewhat, and while he still logged 21:12 per game, Nikitin was then surpassed on the depth chart last season by rookie Ryan Murray, leaving Nikitin to play 17:07 per game on the third pair. Playing on that third pair didnt bring ideal results, as Nikitin was a little below break-even in possession terms, but if there is reason to hold out hope for Nikitin, it may be that his with-or-without you numbers arent bad over the past three seasons. Among the 16 skaters with whom he played at least 300 5-on-5 minutes over those three seasons, Nikitin had better possession numbers apart than 11 of those skaters, but that relative effectiveness has decreased in the past two seasons, to the point that in 2013-2014, Nikitin had better possession stats apart from just three of the 13 skaters with whom he played more than 150 5-on-5 minutes. What this would seem to indicate is that Nikitin, who has good size, can skate and handle the puck a bit, isnt necessarily one to carry the play. He could be a useful complementary player and presumably Oilers Senior VP of Hockey Operations Scott Howson (who acquired Nikitin as GM in Columbus) is a fan, but there is risk in bringing in a player with falling possession numbers to a team that already ranked 28th in Fenwick Close (unblocked shot attempts during 5-on-5, score within one goal in first two periods and tied in third period). Its not as though Nikitins play in the past couple seasons indicates that he would improve the results no matter with whom he is partnered and its reasonable to wonder if the Oilers have the right personnel to get positive results with Nikitin on the ice. If the Jeff Petry and Martin Marincin pairing goes ahead, then perhaps Nikitin gets a chance alongside Andrew Ference. Maybe that somehow works out and allows the Oilers some time to develop their young defencemen. Its entirely possible that it wont work out, though, and the short-term nature of the contract suggests that both sides recognize that risk. Signed to a two-year, $9-million deal, Nikitin will be well-compensated, particularly if he cant stick in the Oilers top four, but the downside of a two-year deal is limited compared to the longer term that will be available to other free agent defencemen. The Blue Jackets Get: A fifth-round pick. Since the Blue Jackets werent going to bring Nikitin back, getting any asset in return is a plus. The fifth-round pick, 137th overall, belonged to Columbus originally and was traded to Edmonton last season to acquire D Nick Schultz. A fifth-round pick doesnt bring a lot of value, but its something. From 1990 through 2009, just under 15% of the picks between 121 and 150 played at least 100 NHL games, so there is a little better than a one-in-seven chance of netting an NHL player. While its reasonable for the Oilers to have hope Nikitin can perform in a top-four role, it could be telling that the Blue Jackets would let Nikitin depart as a free agent. Mabye they simply didnt want to pay that kind of money to a third pair defenceman, when they have younger, cheaper options (David Savard, Dalton Prout, Tim Erixon) available and thats fair, but current Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was the Blues Director of Scouting when St. Louis picked Nikitin in the fifth round in 2004. Lots can change over time and the Blue Jackets arent likely to regret letting Nikitin go, even if he works out well for the Oilers. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. 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Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth and Ricky Nolasco pitched eight innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night in the opener of an interleague series that began as a matchup between first-place teams. The Dodgers earned their major league-leading 18th shutout of the season while improving to 46-10 since June 22. They opened a 10 1/2 game lead in the NL West, their biggest margin since holding the same lead on Sept. 28, 1977. "Weve been playing great," Nolasco said. "Were just staying with our focus no matter what the opponent is. We know how big it is to keep our A game going." The Red Sox lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell percentage points behind Tampa Bay in the AL East standings. David Ortiz was hitless in three at-bats. Dustin Pedroia, Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew got the only hits off Nolasco. He and Lackey dueled through much of Bostons first visit to Dodger Stadium since 2002. They combined for just five hits in a game that lasted 2 hours, 7 minutes, the Dodgers shortest of the season. "I had a lot of pitches going," Nolasco said. "Youre just trying to match him. He just made one mistake and pitched a great game as well." Nolasco (10-9) struck out six and walked none in tying his longest outing of the season. The right-hander reached double-digit victories for the sixth consecutive season, joining teammate Zack Greinke, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia as the only pitchers to do so every year since 2008. "Weve had some guys throw very well against us this year," Boston manager John Farrell said. "But from a right-hander, this is probably as good a start as weve seen against us." Nolasco is 5-1 in nine starts since being acquired from Miami. The Dodgers starting rotation hasnt allowed a run in its last 23 innings and the staff improved to 18-2 with a 1.77 ERA in 27 games since July 26. "As you get deeper into the season these guys start dominating," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Ricky made it look easy. He gets a variety of breaking balls over to get ahead in the count and then he can change speeds. Whhen he gets in a bit of trouble, he has another gear. Brandon Kintzler Jersey. He doesnt seem to get rattled out there." Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 22nd save in 25 chances. Lackey (8-11) gave up two runs and three hits in eight innings, struck out six and walked none in his first complete game since Sept. 10, 2009, when he was with the Angels. The right-hander has received no runs of support six times this season. "Thats about as good as Ive felt this year. I had everything pretty much working for me," Lackey said. "Its frustrating when one pitch can decide a game. I enjoy these kind of games. Ive been in a bunch of them. It definitely heightens the focus a little bit." Ramirez sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in centre field, scoring Carl Crawford, who led off with a single and stole second. Jacoby Ellsbury climbed the wall while attempting to make the catch. "He was trying to quick-pitch me. Maybe try to get me off-balance," Ramirez said of Lackey. "You got to stay tough and keep fighting until the mistake happens. We knew it wouldnt be easy with him. He was throwing a lot of strikes." Crawford was part of the blockbuster, nine-player deal between the Red Sox and Dodgers last August. He was 2 for 3 against his old team. Los Angeles got Crawford, pitcher Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Nick Punto in exchange for James Loney, Ivan DeJesus Jr., pitchers Allan Webster and Rubby De La Rosa, and Jerry Sands. The Red Sox had the tying runs at first and second with one out in the fifth, but Will Middlebrooks grounded into a double play to end the inning. "With the exception of the back-to-back base hits in the fifth, every ball we squared up was right at someone," Farrell said. NOTES: Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully confirmed he will return in 2014 to call all Dodgers home games and road games in California and Arizona. It will be his 65th season with the team. ... Mattingly said slugger Matt Kemp is getting better, but hes not ready to return yet from a sprained left ankle. ... In 2002, the Red Sox were swept in three games in their only other trip to Dodger Stadium. ... Eight of Bostons last 12 losses have been by two runs or less. ... Boston was shut out for the 10th time this season. ' ' '